Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 111775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
There was a silence, and I imagined Shay was signing something to his dad.
“Look, just be careful, okay? I like that you’re spending time with her, but I also don’t want you rushing into anything serious. Just take it slow.”
Now that Eugene knew I was there, it would be rude to sneak out, so instead, I stepped more heavily on the stairs coming down, making sure they heard me. I’d just made it to the hallway when Shay appeared. Through the doorway, I saw his dad standing by the counter, a cup of coffee in hand.
“Good morning, Maggie,” he greeted with his usual pleasant smile. There was a faint shadow of wariness in his eyes, though. A wariness that hadn’t been there before. I didn’t blame him for worrying. Shay was his son, and he had every right to care about who he let into his heart.
Though, it did seem odd because Eugene had been so welcoming and encouraging of our friendship up until then. Damn, I knew staying the night was a bad idea. It made me look like I was trying to get my feet under the table when nothing could be further from the truth.
“Morning, Eugene,” I replied, just as politely. It was on the tip of my tongue to explain my staying the night wasn’t planned but bringing it up would probably just make things even more awkward.
I glanced at Shay. “I need to get home and change before work. See you on the bus?”
He pulled out his phone and typed, “Don’t you want to stay for breakfast?”
“Oh, no. That’s okay. I’ll grab something later.”
His eyes flickered between mine, obviously seeing my awkwardness, so he nodded and walked me to the door. I’d just stepped outside when I turned back. “Your dad hates me now. You shouldn’t have told him I stayed over,” I whispered. “I could’ve just snuck out or something.”
Shay shot me a look like he found me adorable. “I take it you heard some of that.”
“Yes, and I’m mortified. He thinks I’m going to hurt you like Emer did.”
Shay’s eyes flashed as he stepped forward, his gaze full of heat as he caressed my cheek, then drew back and typed, “You’re nothing like her, and he doesn’t hate you. He’s just a worrier, always has been. And I’m allowed to have people stay over. He doesn’t mind that, honestly.”
“Really?” I replied, still whispering. “Because I don’t want him to think I’m overstepping or trying to get my feet under the table.”
Shay smiled, but there was a small flicker of pity in his eyes, too. It made me realise any normal person wouldn’t be worried about something like that. Staying over for one night didn’t mean I was going to start living there. But I’d been on the streets, and a home was so much more of an elusive, hard to get thing in my world. It was a precious thing. If you had one you didn’t want anyone coming in and invading your space.
“He doesn’t think that,” Shay said finally. “I promise you.”
I blew out a breath, still feeling exposed and far too seen. “I hope you’re right.”
“I am,” Shay typed before stepping closer. “I fucking loved last night.” The heat returned to his eyes, and I flushed, remembering kneeling before him, my knees on the carpet. His face when he came. “I liked having you sleep in my bed.”
“I liked it, too,” I said quietly, then changed to a less butterfly inducing topic. “I accepted the job with Jonathan Oaks, by the way. His office is close to the Balfe Hotel, so we can still get the bus together. That’s good, isn’t it?”
Hearing that, Shay smiled and nodded. I wondered if he’d been fretting about us not having our bus journeys any longer, too.
“Right, well, see you in a little while,” I said, stepping up and pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. I was about to retreat when he caught my jaw, pulling me back to him and kissing me in a much less chaste fashion. I was breathless as I drew away, memories from last night once again filling my head. First, Shay sketching me in the bath, then me going down on him, and finally, falling asleep together.
Remembering the drawing, I whispered, “I need that sketch, by the way.” Shay arched an eyebrow, then grinned. I shoved his shoulder. “Not for anything weird. I just don’t like the idea of there being a picture of me out there anyone could stumble upon.”
“I’d never let anyone see it,” he typed into his phone. “But I understand. I’ll bring it with me to the bus.”
“Okay,” I said, relieved. Then I hurried to get home and change in time for work.
***
Later that evening, I sat in my flat staring at the sketch Shay had drawn of me. Again, he’d managed to capture me in a way that was completely fascinating because all I saw was myself. I didn’t see my mother, and it felt liberating.